Does conception mean the same thing as pregnancy?

The takeaway While conception technically refers to a single sperm fertilizing an egg, theres much more to getting pregnant than conceiving. If you have questions about the steps of conception or your ability to get pregnant, talk to your doctor.

What exactly does conception mean?

Conception occurs when a sperm cell from a fertile man swims up through the vagina and into the uterus of a woman and joins with the womans egg cell as it travels down one of the fallopian tubes from the ovary to the uterus.

How long is pregnancy from conception?

The unborn baby spends around 38 weeks in the uterus, but the average length of pregnancy, or gestation, is counted at 40 weeks. Pregnancy is counted from the first day of the womans last period, not the date of conception which generally occurs two weeks later.

Can you test positive 5 days after conception?

As soon as the fertilized egg implants into the uterine wall, the hCG pregnancy hormone is produced. This means a high-quality pregnancy test could detect a pregnancy in as little as five days after conception.

How soon after ovulation does conception happen?

In order for this to happen, a woman must be in her fertile window. This means that shes nearing or has reached ovulation — the moment each menstrual cycle when an egg releases from the ovary. An egg can only be fertilized between 12 and 24 hours from when it is released.

What happens in the first few days after conception?

Some women may notice symptoms as early as 5 DPO, although they wont know for certain that they are pregnant until much later. Early signs and symptoms include implantation bleeding or cramps, which can occur 5–6 days after the sperm fertilizes the egg. Other early symptoms include breast tenderness and mood changes.